Episode 89: Healing Through Humor with Dave and Bobbie Ebert

Episode 90: Hope Reins with Kim Tschirret

Join us for an inspiring episode of the Circle 31 International Women's Ministry Podcast as we sit down with Kim Tschirret, the founder of Hope Reins. Established in 2010, Hope Reins is Kim’s heartfelt response to a childhood marred by abuse and trauma. Finding solace in her loyal horse, Country, amidst familial alcoholism, Kim embarked on her own journey of hope and healing. Today, the 38-acre Hope Reins ranch in Raleigh, North Carolina, has become a sanctuary where more than 3,000 children have found hope and healing alongside 18 rescued horses, with all services provided free of charge. The ranch gained national attention in 2018 with the release of the best-selling book “Joey” by volunteer Jennifer Bleakley, which narrates Hope Reins’ origins and the transformative role of a blind Appaloosa horse in helping children heal. Kim has been featured in various national publications including Focus on the Family and has been a guest on podcasts such as Nothing is Wasted, Treasured Ministries, and Grace Enough. She recently appeared on PBS’ Side by Side with Dr. Nido Qubein. In 2020, Kim received the Triangle Business Journal’s Women in Business Award, recognizing her as a dynamic leader in business and community service. Kim lives in Raleigh with her husband Michael, two kids, Chance and Isabel, and three dogs. Tune in to hear Kim’s incredible journey and learn more about the transformative work of Hope Reins.

Episode 89: Healing Through Humor with Dave and Bobbie Ebert

Dave and Bobbie Ebert are newly appointed US Missions Candidates with the Assemblies of God. For the last 8 years, they have served in children’s ministry together, but are bittersweetly releasing this ministry to pursue full-time ministry as US Missionaries. Their ministry as missionaries will be to serve survivors of trauma, focusing on sex trafficking survivors, using improv comedy. This is a ministry Dave has been doing part-time since 2018, and now Dave and Bobbie will be moving into full-time ministry.  Dave and Bobbie lead Well Versed Comedy, an improv comedy ministry troupe, that has served Chicago-land churches and ministries since 2013. Bobbie is also a leader in Moms in the Making, a faith-based fertility support group for married women seeking to grow their family. Dave and Bobbie have been married since 2015, and are waiting expectantly for their own children.

Episode 88: Unpause Your Dreams with Charlene Ridley

Charlene Ridley loves God more than anything this life could ever give.  Her faith and passion for praying serve as her guide in navigating every situation, decision, or endeavor.  Charlene is the founder of Unpause Your Dreams, a dream development agency that empowers women to stop putting off their dreams for “someday” and to take action to dare to live them NOW. Using her MBA & 20+ years corporate leadership and personal development experience, Charlene has coached hundreds to realize their dreams. This work earned her the honor of being recognized by Influence Digest as one of the top coaches in Charlotte, NV for 2023.  Charlene’s expertise in business strategy, leadership development, and mindset transformation has earned her several features and recognitions in national and local publications.  In addition, to these accomplishments, Charlene is a mother of 3 and speaker who openly shares on a wide variety of topics from mindset to her own personal grief journey of losing her 16 year old son in 2023.  She is also active in her community—serving as board member, leader of a church small group and prayer team.

Episode 87: Reaching Souls with Mischelle Manis

Believing there is no time to waste when it comes to reaching people for Christ, Reaching Souls International™ is proud to announce they have added the support of women National Missionaries as part of their strategy to spread the Gospel around the world.  For more than 35 years, Reaching Souls has provided evangelism training, ongoing discipleship and other essential support to empower thousands of National Missionaries around the world to reach their own people with the Gospel. For a long time, cultural barriers and denominational stereotypes that exist in some countries hindered the ministry from formally including women as National Missionaries but it has been a goal to do so for many years.  “Everything has its time and recently the idea of women National Missionaries was met with applause by the ministry’s Latin American and African leaders,” said Director of Women’s Ministry for Reaching Souls, Mischelle Manis. “In January of this year at our annual Summit in Africa, the feedback we heard was, ‘We’ve witnessed the women in our communities doing the work of the ministry for many years. We are ready!’ There is universal agreement that this is the right time to come alongside women and support them as they reach their own people for Christ.”  It was during her first trip to Africa in 1990 that God placed a passion for women in Manis’ heart, but the doors were still largely closed for women missionaries at that time. As God has steadily positioned Reaching Souls to be able to offer more support to local women evangelists, it has affirmed her vision and confirmed that His timing is always perfect.  The ministry believes that partnering with indigenous leaders who are relationally and culturally connected to their communities is not only the most effective way to share the Gospel, but also the most efficient. Across the world, Reaching Souls works diligently to identify local evangelists who have a passion and calling to reach their people for Christ.  Reaching Souls has trained women in evangelism for over two decades.  “I’m excited to be able to begin supporting the work of women National Missionaries in this new way,” shared Manis. “I have walked together with thousands of godly women to the streets, villages and countryside with the Gospel. Women are strong, bold, and effective evangelists. Women across the globe understand what it’s like to feel unseen. Especially those in compromised environments. This gives our women National Missionaries a powerful connection to the most vulnerable in their community.”  Reaching Souls recognizes that women are uniquely gifted for the work of the Lord. Often women are the ones ministering to kids in the streets, to those who have been orphaned, and to those who have a mistrust of men. In those situations, women are welcomed.  “Women are seen as nurturers and as mommas,” said Manis. “There are places where women can minister that men simply do not have access. As a ministry, we're missing an opportunity to reach people that we could if we add women.”

Episode 86: The Heart of Christian Education with Drs. Weaver and Karone Blondin

Pastor Blondin is a fun-loving person who loves people and loves doing the work of the Lord. He has a heart for preaching and teaching the Word of God, serving others, and reaching those not yet saved. He is also passionate about young people reaching their spiritual and educational potential by helping them learn more about God’s goodness and the saving grace of Jesus Christ. Pastor Blondin is a native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Savior in April 1989. He was baptized in August of that same year at Antioch Baptist Church,  Fairfax Station, Virginia.  He acknowledged and accepted the calling on his life to preach the gospel in September 1998. He was also licensed to preach in November 2000 at Antioch Baptist Church under the leadership of Pastor Marshal Ausberry. In November 2001, Pastor Blondin accepted God’s call to serve as the full-time Children and Youth Pastor at Mount Pleasant Baptist Church in Herndon, Virginia. He loved serving in that ministry along with his other passions, which include evangelism and missions. He has been on many life-changing, spiritually enriching, international mission trips to several African countries, Brazil, and the Virgin Islands evangelizing, preaching, and teaching the gospel. Pastor Blondin was ordained in December 2002 at Mount Pleasant Baptist Church under the pastoral guidance of Pastor James L. Graham, Jr. Upon relocation to the Central Florida area, Pastor Blondin was blessed with the privilege of serving as an associate minister at St. Mary’s Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of Pastor Arthur Graham, Jr.  He has worked in leadership positions within Orange County Community Corrections, as well as The Orange County Village Facility. Pastor Blondin also volunteers as the Executive Director for Hearts For Ministry Foundation, Inc. He has also served as the Director of Operations for Frontline Outreach Ministries. Pastor Blondin was educated in the Washington, DC, and Northern Virginia areas and studied at the University of the District of Columbia, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. He also holds a Master of Science from the American University and a Master of Divinity from Faith Christian University and Bible Seminary.  Pastor Blondin has been happily married to Dr. Karone Blondin, PhD, for 30 years. Dr. Karone Blondin, Ph.D., is a kindhearted and genuine person who loves people and enjoys seeing them reach their full potential. She is also passionate about shaping young people and building their self-esteem. Since relocating to Florida, she supports, partners, and volunteers with many non-profit organizations. In the past, she has served as a Sunday School and Bible Study teacher, as well as a children and youth advisor. She has also had the pleasure of serving the children and youth while on the mission field to the Virgin Islands. Dr. Karone Blondin, Ph.D., is a native of Durham, North Carolina, and has served as a civil servant for over 30 years in the Federal Government including working with the General Services Administration and the Department of the Navy. She earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemistry from North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro, NC, and her Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the American University, Washington, District of Columbia.  Dr. Karone Blondin, Ph.D., has been happily married to Reverend Dr. Weaver Blondin, D.Min, for 30 years.